To view recent and prior plans and the Commission's recommendations, visit the list of Previous Plans and Related Actions within this Web site.

Little Hoover Commission's Role in Governor's
Reorganization
Process

The Little Hoover Commission’s role in the reorganization process is described in Government Code Section 8523. State law establishes that there are at least 60 days of review process for a Governor's reorganization plan. The Governor first submits a plan to the Office of Legislative Counsel for drafting into bill language, then to the Little Hoover Commission. The Commission must receive the plan at least 30 days prior to the Governor submitting it to the Legislature. Once the Governor submits the plan to the Legislature, the Commission has 30 days to offer its recommendation on whether the plan should be allowed to go into effect.

The Commission’s role in the reorganization process is advisory. It begins by conducting one or more public hearings, providing a forum for affected agencies, constituencies and interest groups to comment on the proposal. In addition to invited witnesses, the Commission hears testimony from other interests or members of the public who would like to testify. The Commission also welcomes written comments.

The Commission reviews the plan and submits a report to the Governor and the Legislature within 30 days of the plan being submitted to the Legislature. The Commission assesses the plan based on its broad mandate to assist policy-makers in “promoting economy, efficiency and improved service in the transaction of the public business.” The Commission's report offers a recommendation on whether the plan should go into effect, and sometimes suggests how the plan could be strengthened or measures that should be taken if the plan is implemented.

A reorganization plan may be delivered to the Legislature at any time
during a regular session, provided the Legislature has at least 60 calendar days of continuous session remaining to consider the plan. If neither the Assembly nor Senate adopts by majority vote a resolution rejecting the Governor’s
plan, it becomes effective on the 61st day after it has been given to the Legislature. Actual statutory language to enact the reorganization
is processed in the following year, but the reorganization is effective
even without the statutes being on the books.